Skip to main content

​
Quick Start Guide

Get the FRED MCP Server running with your AI assistant in just a few minutes. This guide will walk you through the fastest path to start querying economic data.

​
Prerequisites

1

Get a FRED API Key

Visit fred.stlouisfed.org/docs/api/api_key.html to register for a free API key.
The API key is free and provides access to all FRED data. Registration takes less than a minute.
2

Install Claude Desktop (or another MCP client)

Download Claude Desktop or ensure you have another MCP-compatible client installed.

​
Installation

Choose your preferred installation method:
The fastest way to install is using Smithery:
npx -y @smithery/cli install @stefanoamorelli/fred-mcp-server --client claude
This command will:
  • Install the server
  • Configure it for Claude Desktop
  • Prompt you for your FRED API key

​
Configuration

​
Claude Desktop Configuration

The Claude Desktop configuration file location varies by platform:
  • macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
  • Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json
  • Linux: ~/.config/claude/claude_desktop_config.json
Edit your claude_desktop_config.json: 
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "fred-mcp": {
      "command": "fred-mcp-server",
      "env": {
        "FRED_API_KEY": "your_actual_api_key_here"
      }
    }
  }
}
Replace your_actual_api_key_here with your actual FRED API key. Keep this key secure and never commit it to version control.

​
Verify Installation

After configuration, restart Claude Desktop and verify the server is working:
1

Restart Claude Desktop

Completely quit and restart Claude Desktop to load the new configuration.
2

Check MCP Connection

In Claude, you should see “fred-mcp” in the MCP servers list (look for the 🔌 icon).
3

Test a Query

Try asking Claude:
"What's the current US GDP growth rate?"
Claude should use the fred_get_series tool to fetch the data.

​
Your First Queries

Now that you’re set up, try these example queries to explore FRED data:

​
Basic Economic Indicators

"Show me the US unemployment rate for the last year"

​
Advanced Queries

"Search for all inflation-related indicators"

​
Common Series IDs

Here are some frequently used FRED series IDs:
  • GDP: Real Gross Domestic Product
  • UNRATE: Unemployment Rate
  • CPIAUCSL: Consumer Price Index (All Urban Consumers)
  • CPILFESL: Core CPI (Less Food and Energy)
  • PAYEMS: All Employees, Total Nonfarm Payrolls
  • DFF: Federal Funds Effective Rate
  • DGS10: 10-Year Treasury Rate
  • DGS2: 2-Year Treasury Rate
  • TB3MS: 3-Month Treasury Bill
  • MORTGAGE30US: 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average
  • SP500: S&P 500 Index
  • DJIA: Dow Jones Industrial Average
  • NASDAQCOM: NASDAQ Composite Index
  • VIXCLS: CBOE Volatility Index (VIX)
  • HOUST: Housing Starts
  • CSUSHPISA: Case-Shiller Home Price Index
  • PERMIT: Building Permits
  • MSACSR: Monthly Supply of Houses

​
Example Conversations

​
Economic Analysis

You: "Analyze the relationship between unemployment and inflation over the last decade"

Claude: I'll analyze the relationship between unemployment and inflation using FRED data...
[Uses fred_get_series to fetch UNRATE and CPIAUCSL data]
[Provides analysis with data visualization]

​
Market Monitoring

You: "Create a dashboard of key economic indicators for Q4 2024"

Claude: I'll gather the key economic indicators for Q4 2024...
[Uses multiple fred_get_series calls to fetch GDP, UNRATE, CPI, etc.]
[Presents organized data summary]

​
Troubleshooting

  1. Ensure configuration file is valid JSON
  2. Check the file path is correct for your OS
  3. Restart Claude Desktop completely
  4. Verify the server command is in your PATH
  • Verify your API key is valid at fred.stlouisfed.org
  • Ensure the key is properly quoted in the config
  • Check for extra spaces or characters
  • Check the series ID is correct (case-sensitive)
  • Verify the date range includes available data
  • Try a known working series like “GDP” or “UNRATE”

​
Next Steps

Installation Guide

Detailed installation for all platforms

API Reference

Complete documentation of all tools

Examples

Learn with practical examples

Common Series

Popular FRED series reference